A lot of big trees fell or were badly damaged during the recent severe storm and most of them were exotic conifers. Curiously the two most common exotic conifers in New Zealand are the Monterey pine (Pinus radiata) and the Monterey cypress (Cupressus macrocarpa). Both have a very restricted natural range (in the case of the macrocarpa, to Monterey on the coast of California - more specifically Cypress Point at Pebble Beach and Point Lobo near Carmel) where the native populations, relics of much larger forests, are under threat. However, in New Zealand, they have both thrived and sometimes seem to be rampant.
Macrocarpas are tolerant of harsh coastal conditions. They were introduced here in the 1860's and were often planted in windbreaks on coastal farms where their spreading branches and quite dense foliage also gave good shelter for stock. There are a lot of large macrocarpas in Wellington's town belt, and a number of them growing on Mt Victoria have been seen world wide - they featured in the first "Lord of the Rings" movie. On the coastal road along the Maupuia peninsula, between Scorching Bay and Mahanga Bay, two macrocarpas put on a different show...
They are growing in a rocky outcrop - straight from the rock - who needs soil? Closer up, the disruption of the rock by the roots is evident. Thus they create the conditions for the tree to survive...
The cracks in the rock, fractured by the strong roots, will catch water. Some of the minerals in the crumbling rock are presumably available to be taken up. And there is plenty of sunshine. On the other hand, there is salty spray and harsh wind - burning of foliage is evident on even the most resilient plants along the coast since the big storm, some absolutely devastated as if by fire. Neverthless, these trees are of decent size, and do not seem to have been daunted by the storm. Impressive.